EDFL 2019: Mick McGuane’s Keilor books grand final berth

Keilor, under the guidance of master coach Mick McGuane, extended its winning run to 19 games and secured its grand final spot with a come-from-behind win over rival Aberfeldie.

Keilor champion Kane Barbuto celebrates after nailing the last goal of the game. Picture: Jamie Morey

Minor premier Keilor stamped its EDFL Premier Division grand final ticket after a come-from-behind victory over rival Aberfeldie in Sunday’s major semi-final.

The Blues were staring at a 22-point deficit early in the last quarter and had just four goals on the board before piling on five unanswered to seal a 14-point win, 9.13 (67) to 7.11 (53).

Captain Kane Barbuto kicked two majors in the last half-hour, Jackson McMahon also contributed two, while Dylan Joyce nailed an important goal after Abers looked to have established a match-winning lead.

With rain tumbling for most of the afternoon at Windy Hill, Keilor gained the ascendancy when the ground dried up, leaving the reigning premier to take the long road to the decider.

Aberfeldie will meet Strathmore in Sunday’s preliminary final.

Keilor is 19-0 in 2019 and one win away from the ultimate prize after advancing to its third grand final in four years, but McGuane was pragmatic after his side’s latest triumph.

Jaryd Cachia on the burst for Aberfeldie. Picture: Jamie Morey

“The job’s not done yet, so I’m not relieved. We’ve got another two hours to go,” McGuane said.

“We’re there, so we can look after our bodies, train them with purpose, have a look at the game, get some lessons out of it and educate some of our younger generation players.

“It’s more about anticipation now because until you know who you’re playing, you really can’t into the week-to-week cycle.

“We’ll just enjoy this week and make sure we patch up some sore bodies because it was a tough and brutal game.”

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Abers led by seven points at the first break, 18 points at half-time and by 15 points at three-quarter-time.

Jayden Foster’s goal at the two-minute mark of the last term appeared to lock them in to feature on the final day of the season for a seventh year in a row, but you can never count Keilor out.

The Blues lifted in the midfield and dominated the clearances, led by Barbuto, Joyce, Todd Stevenson, Brett Stillman and David Isbister.

Stefan Radovanovic and Riley Ham were influential across half-back, while Brad Xavier shouldered the ruck load at critical times.

Keilor's Joseph Ciranna and Aberfeldie’s Jess Rush battle for possession. Picture: Jamie Morey

“We re-structured a little bit and the players that were given new roles started to influence the game and started to kick-start our offence,” McGuane said.

“We’re pretty damaging as a team generally when we get our offence. We’re No. 1-ranked offensively and defensively we’ve been pretty strong too, but you have to be against a team like Aberfeldie, otherwise you leak too many goals.”

McGuane heaped praise on his players, with the club to enter the September 21 grand final with an unblemished record despite having several stars on the sidelines.

Former AFL-listed pair Nick O’Kearney and Damien Cavka are injured, along with ruckman Brock McGregor and defender Jesse Wallin, while Nash Holmes has spent the year with North Melbourne’s VFL team.

“That’s why I’m so proud of this group, knowing full well you’ve got a vice-captain in the stands in O’Kearney,” McGuane said.

“Cavka is a leader of the club, the first-choice ruckman is injured. Nash Holmes didn’t qualify from VFL commitments and there’s Jesse Wallin, who’s probably one of the best lock-down defenders in the comp.

“To get to this stage of the year without them is a credit to the playing group.”

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